Paul waiting on your assesment on the Southhampton loss

[Sir X]

This bredda cant set up a midfield or defence , it matters not who he buys or sells to implement his shitstem in midfield and defence , same sh*t.This is the worst I have seen Lucas , Skertel and Agger play , Johnson seems to flourish and its only because he is given the role of attacking,where are all the youths that was bussing under K.D , incidentally when we had one of the top 3 defences last season , they called us artist because we drew so much , shows how much of a genius K.D was to build from the bottom up, like Rafa did his 1st season.This fool is going to cost us money ,we will not win anything under this fool , no knock out cups , which requires a solid defence.

I read an article from a Kop site reminds me of you , I will post it later.I am convinced after Rafa wins 2 cups at Chelsea , FSG will have no choice but to beg him back.

[Sir X]

Rodgers Needs To Practice What He Preaches

By Kopology on March 17, 2013

Kopology explains why Brendan Rodgers needs to learn from his mistakes after disappointingly repeating the same ones in his tactics for the defeat at Southampton on Saturday.

Anyone familiar with my writing will know I’m a huge fan of Brendan Rodgers and the style of football he has brought to Liverpool this season. I’ve defended him in the past when many were criticising, and tried to explain what he was trying to do when things have gone wrong, as well as what he might try to do in the future. So it might come as a surprise that, for me, the defeat to Southampton was entirely Brendan Rodgers’ fault.
Everybody makes mistakes, they are just part of the learning process. But to make the same mistake twice, or three times as Brendan Rodgers has now done, is a sign of either stubbornness, stupidity or arrogance.
When Rodgers picked only two midfielders against Oldham he was perhaps arrogant to underestimate his lower-league opponents. He repeated the same mistake against Spurs, until bringing on Allen to add an extra body in midfield – a change that helped turn the match around. So to what do we owe him making the same mistake for a third time against Southampton?
Each time we’ve looked like finding some consistency this season we’ve abruptly come unstuck, usually to lower opposition. Sometimes a run of good results can cause players to become complacent, but players don’t pick the team, and despite many of the players under-performing, this defeat was down to a tactical mistake.
Physical Presence in Midfield
Let us be clear: when playing a 4-2-3-1 formation with attacking players occupying the ‘3’, the ‘2’ behind them must be strong defensively and have a physical presence. When Benitez played a 4-2-3-1 at Liverpool, he did so with Alonso and Mascherano (or before him, Sissoko) as the two holding players and Steven Gerrard – who is now being asked to perform a more defensive role in Brendan Rodgers’ side – ahead of them. While Alonso wouldn’t be classed as a ball-winner, his defensive positioning and reading of the game complemented Mascherano’s physicality and bite.
Theoretically, Rodgers could put out a side including Sturridge, Suarez, Coutinho and Downing if the two behind them were competent defensively and physically imposing. Suarez is capable of playing in the hole between midfield and attack. His workrate is superb, but he’s no midfielder, so the two players in behind him need to compensate for his licence to roam.

Gerrard has done well playing deeper, but these days he’s best when operating as a ‘regista’ – a role which when performed by Andrea Pirlo is accompanied by two players doing the dirty work while he dictates the game. Gerrard is no longer the all-action, powerhouse of a player we once knew. Lucas is superb at reading the game and nipping in to steal the ball, but he is no Yaya Toure, and will never be the type to boss a midfield by himself. Allen has never been a defensive midfielder, and operates best with two other players close to him, where he can get and give the ball quickly over short distances.
It’s easy to blame Allen for the Southampton defeat – the Welshman seems to be the on-field scapegoat for many of Rodgers’ biggest critics – but he wasn’t even on the pitch for the second half, and helped change things against Spurs when he came on. The truth is, playing with any two of Gerrard, Allen and Lucas behind four attacking players contributing little defensively is like trying to build a skyscraper without foundations: a tower of attacking vanity bound to topple when the slightest pressure is applied.
Shaky Defence
As if that weren’t frivolous enough, the midfield sits in front of a defence that has been shaky – to say the least – all season. Martin Skrtel was never as good as some made out last season when he performed to the limits of his ability. His positioning and reading of the game are at times woeful, compounded by a loss of confidence that comes with being asked to play in a style and system ill-suited to his attributes.

“LFC are scoring more goals-per-game than 19 of last 20 seasons, but also conceding more per game than 19 of last 20 seasons.”
- via @BassTunedToRed

Soon to retire Jamie Carragher has been running on fumes for some time, and Daniel Agger is struggling to perform to his best, perhaps in part due to the lack of a competent defensive partner. With such frailties at the back, selecting four in attack and two midfielders more comfortable on the ball than winning it is bordering on negligence. Had Martin Kelly not been injured early in the season he might now be getting the chance we’ve all expected him to get at some point in the centre of defence. Considering all that, Rodgers could do worse than to throw Andre Wisdom in for the remainder of the season.
Learn from mistakes?
To cut him a little slack, Rodgers isn’t helped by having only one defensive midfielder in his squad. Some might ask why he didn’t address that in either transfer window, but the need for attacking reinforcements was an even more pressing concern. In his post-game comments the Liverpool manager revealed Lucas had a slight fitness problem, but if he was fit enough to sit on the bench and come on at half time, couldn’t he have played from the start?

Whatever his reasons, Rodgers needs to learn a lesson he has impressed on his players: you must win the right to play. That doesn’t apply just to players’ effort levels and attitudes on the pitch, but also to the strategy adopted by the manager himself. You can play with four slick, technically brilliant attacking players, but you must compliment them with players who can win the battle and the ball, providing them the stage on which to entertain. Attack may well be the best form of defence, but all-out attack without a stable base to launch from is just footballing masochism.
Rodgers might have to make a brave decision or two this summer. If we are to persist with 4-2-3-1 and Luis Suarez central in the three, is Lucas enough of a presence to be the most defensive midfielder in the side? Even if Lucas were replaced with someone more combative, would a 33 year old Gerrard have enough physically to be the second midfielder in the ‘2’?
I remain a fan of Brendan Rodgers’ entertaining brand of football. I think he is intelligent enough to learn from his mistakes and brave enough to make sure they are not repeated yet again. That will mean investing in at least one central defender who won’t be bullied this summer, as well as a defensive midfielder to not only compete with Lucas Leiva, but to replace him as the ‘enforcer’ and linchpin on which the team’s attacking play can be mounted.

[Sir X]

After pointing out his habitual mistakes ,he concludes he has belief in the man, if that was Rafa , I would hear from you and the xenophobic british media the worst, you notice the phrase ..under fergies nose in the media ? to imply a fly , nuisance to be brushed aside like a bothersome waiter who wont give you the time to eat your food .....RAFA !

[HL]

....the Southhampton loss....?

Carry on Paul, hope yuh don't mind if I listen in.

I was ticked off by the Everton loss myself.... ...

[Assasin]

hold on Rafa the savior coming your way next. I hear Mancini is on the flight to Italy right after the game and not a word. LOL

[Paul Marin]

After pointing out his habitual mistakes ,he concludes he has belief in the man, if that was Rafa , I would hear from you and the xenophobic british media the worst, you notice the phrase ..under fergies nose in the media ? to imply a fly , nuisance to be brushed aside like a bothersome waiter who wont give you the time to eat your food .....RAFA !

X, I think if I was hit by a bus, and you were the only man standing by, your first reaction would be to "call Rafa". Dread, Rafa no have nutten eena dis.

Anyway, I didn't see the Southampton game, but do you know that since the founding of the Prem, Liverpool has beaten Southampton in both league games only four times? That is less than what we've done to Everton, which has a fiercer rivalry with us. The point is that there is a historically challenging aspect to this game that smarter people than me can't put a finger on.

Regardless, I have no difference of opinion with the writer of that article. Rodgers is still young, prone to mistakes and is learning. Part of your problem is that you are not aligned with the "project" as FSG have defined it. They are no longer going to overspend and will focus on youth and building for the long term. That is supposed to be 3-5 years with the goal of getting back to the UCL next season or the season after at worst. If BR doesn't get back into the UCL next season, I suspect he will be gone, especially if they spent any form of $. Most LFC fans are willing to give him that time.

You are also acting like KD did anything grand - yes, he made the FA Cup finals and yes, he won the Carling Cup, but the league is the priority. KD left the team in 8th place; Rafa left the team in 7th place. So far, if Rodgers holds on to 7th, he's at least not been any worse and had far less than the £80m that KD squandered.

YNWA

[Dunny]

X, I think if I was hit by a bus, and you were the only man standing by, your first reaction would be to "call Rafa". Dread, Rafa no have nutten eena dis.

Anyway, I didn't see the Southampton game, but do you know that since the founding of the Prem, Liverpool has beaten Southampton in both league games only four times? That is less than what we've done to Everton, which has a fiercer rivalry with us. The point is that there is a historically challenging aspect to this game that smarter people than me can't put a finger on.

Regardless, I have no difference of opinion with the writer of that article. Rodgers is still young, prone to mistakes and is learning. Part of your problem is that you are not aligned with the "project" as FSG have defined it. They are no longer going to overspend and will focus on youth and building for the long term. That is supposed to be 3-5 years with the goal of getting back to the UCL next season or the season after at worst. If BR doesn't get back into the UCL next season, I suspect he will be gone, especially if they spent any form of $. Most LFC fans are willing to give him that time.

You are also acting like KD did anything grand - yes, he made the FA Cup finals and yes, he won the Carling Cup, but the league is the priority. KD left the team in 8th place; Rafa left the team in 7th place. So far, if Rodgers holds on to 7th, he's at least not been any worse and had far less than the £80m that KD squandered.

YNWA

Sothampton made Manchester City look Ordinary a few weeks ago so .......

[Lazie]

X just Xcited as usual. Him nuh realize that since they got the new coach the Saints are a different team? MU was lucky to get the 3 points at home and we all know what they did to Citeh.

[Sir X]

Yuh right .....X, I think if I was hit by a bus, and you were the only man standing by, your first reaction would be to "call Rafa.

Man City Look ordinary from di year start......Rodgers is still young, prone to mistakes and is learning...a suh far wi fall , wi can xperiment wid man who young and prone to mistakes ? we cant afford a bonafide solid coach , in other words , BR nuh gaurantee to bring wi nothing . ..wow ...we use to hire coaches who can gaurantee us trophies .

[Paul Marin]

Yuh right .....X, I think if I was hit by a bus, and you were the only man standing by, your first reaction would be to "call Rafa.

Man City Look ordinary from di year start......Rodgers is still young, prone to mistakes and is learning...a suh far wi fall , wi can xperiment wid man who young and prone to mistakes ? we cant afford a bonafide solid coach , in other words , BR nuh gaurantee to bring wi nothing . ..wow ...we use to hire coaches who can gaurantee us trophies .

X - which manager can you point to that can guarantee anything? Look at Slurgie last year? What him win? What about Wenger? What has he won? There is a lot more to winning than just the manager. Slurgie and dem are almost £1b in debt buying tropies, same wid City and Chelski who have big debts of their own. The data is pretty clear, unless you spend, you will not win. Your beef should be with FSG and leave BR mek him do him job. You are guilty of the same madness that nyam out the "Rafa Out" crowd-dem brain at Chelski.

[Sir X]

Yuh grasping at straws brethren , Rafa did more with less and thats a fact , a sell to buy policy , that said any manager in the top 4 is mandated to win a trophy for the season be it carling cup , to FA cup , The Prem & C.L is the pinnacle , thats 4 trophys up for grabs every season, 5 if yuh mek europa , we are gauranteed nothing - win or compete for anything under B.R , with Rafa we are gauranteed something every season if not every other and that is to at least compete , our season under B.R ended from september last year , wi nuh inna di running from christmas and by Jan we were out of them competitions , all ...I cant cast my dye on FSG , BR inna it tuh , im tek up tings bigga dan im ead , and it get buss.

That is our reality the sooner you accept it the better off we will be , by next christmas the youth coach is out .FSG tighten up purse strings....we cant compete with Spurs in the transfer market ? ... suh wi a compete wid
Everton ? ....Boss dis nuh pretty , the youth policy approach has been debunked by Arsenal.


1st and foremost until you admit that the only manager who can build pool on FSG budget is Rafa, yuh fooling yuh self , he will get more out of that team than BR....Our defence di same one that took us to a FA cup final and won us a trophy last season is now an iron mesh... that says it all , Lucas has been reduced to nothing , a hear talk of trading the Big man....you will rue the day like you did Hodgson!

[Paul Marin]

1st and foremost until you admit that the only manager who can build pool on FSG budget is Rafa, yuh fooling yuh self ...

X, graveyards are full of "indespensible people". Rafa himself is a deadman walking (thanks for your service Snr. Rafa); until you realise that it is time to move on, I think we can agree to disagree as to who's fooling whose-self. Stay positive.